Written Answers Thursday 19 August 2010

Scottish Executive

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were consulted regarding the proposed abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission by the United Kingdom Government.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs wrote to the First Minister on 14 July, to inform the Scottish Government that she was planning to announce on 22 July that the UK Government would be withdrawing funding for the Sustainable Development Commission. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment replied on 20 July, reserving the Scottish Government’s position.

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland.

Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish ministers are assessing their options with regard to the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland and its functions, following the UK Government’s decision to withdraw funding from the end of the financial year.

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the future of the Sustainable Development Commission.

Roseanna Cunningham: Yes. Discussions are ongoing.

Sustainable Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the contribution made by the Sustainable Development Commission to its work in relation to energy, waste reduction, health and transport.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the scrutiny of its work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the reports published by the Sustainable Development Commission.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the added value to its work arising as a result of its consideration of the Sustainable Development Commission’s reports.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the work carried out on its Greener Scotland policy objectives by the Sustainable Development Commission, especially that regarding sustainable development and tackling climate change.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the value of the advice and research carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in relation to NHS Scotland and local authorities.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in assessing the Scottish Government’s progress on addressing sustainable development issues.

Roseanna Cunningham: The work of the Sustainable Development Commission has been valuable in informing Scottish Government policy development across a broad range of areas.